Scented Artificial Flower System and Method

ABSTRACT

A scented flower including a flower head having holes to permit the release of a scent and a removable stalk for containing a scented substance that will gradually release a scent through the holes of the flower head when the stalk is coupled to the head. Flower heads of various shapes, sizes, color, and types may be paired with stalks of various shapes, sizes, color, and types. In addition, the stalk may include a variety of scented substances. Accordingly, a multitude of combinations of scents, stalks, and flowers are provided, and may be interchanged at the whim of the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to artificial flowers and, more specifically, to artificial flowers having scent dispensing capabilities.

2. Description of Prior Art

In many instances, one's surroundings, whether a home, a business, a hotel, are designed to reflect a particular lifestyle, personality, or identity. While most people would prefer to decorate with fresh flowers, the costs of doing is often prohibitive. As a result, many people choose to use artificial flowers, which are becoming increasingly popular due their improved variety of colors, shapes, and styles. Scents also plays an important role in identifying, communicating, and evoking emotions and enhancing one's surrounding.

Conventional attempts to combine the decorative effect of artificial flowers and the impact of scents are rather complicated and often lack flexibility. For example, one system of combining artificial flowers with scents includes the use of a wick positioned in the head of the flower that extends downwardly through the flower stem into a reservoir. While this system provides a scented artificial flower, the structure required for providing the scent is quite complex and, as result, expensive. In addition, the wick may suffer degradation of its ability to properly draw fluid and is inseparable from the head of the flower, thereby reducing the user's ability to select scents and flower types. Other systems include the use of small fans positioned in the head of the flower which draw scented air through the stem and disperse it out of the flower. Such systems are even more complex that the wick-based systems, costs, and involve moving parts that are subject to failure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a scented artificial flower that is modular.

It is an additional object and advantage of the present invention to provide a scented artificial flower that is easy to manufacture.

It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to scented artificial flower that may be easily paired with different scents.

It is an addition object and advantage of the present invention to scented artificial flower that may be easily replenished.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter.

In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention comprises a flower head having holes to permit the release of a scent and a removable stalk for containing a scented substance that will gradually release a scent through the holes of the flower head when the stalk is coupled to the head. Flower heads of various shapes, sizes, color, and types may be paired with stalks of various shapes, sizes, color, and types. In addition, the stalk may include a variety of scented substances and be translucent so that a user may more easily tell when the scent producing substance has been depleted. Due to the module nature of the stem and flower head of the present invention, a multitude of combinations of scents, stalks, and flowers are provided, and may be interchanged at the whim of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a scented artificial flower according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a scented artificial flower according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective, cutaway view of a further embodiment of a scented artificial flower according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1, a scented flower 10 according to the present invention. Flower 10 generally comprises a flower head 12 including one or more holes 14 formed therethrough and a stem 16 that is removably connected to head 12. Stem 16 includes an opening 18 at one end that communicates with a reservoir 18 formed in stem 16. Reservoir 18 contains a scented substance 20 that gradually releases a scent in to the air via holes 14 of head 12. Head 12 may comprise any number of flow petals 22, sepals 24, stamen 26 as well as any other known flower structures for replicating an actual flower. Stem 16 may further include a foil 28 or appropriately sized cap for sealing and retaining substance 20 (and associated scent) in reservoir 18 prior to removal of lid 28 and attachment of stem 16 to flower head 12.

Flower head 12 and stem 16 preferably provided with corresponding threaded regions 30 and 32, respectively, for removably attaching head 12 to stem 16. Stem 16 further includes a shoulder 34 for securely seating and sealing head 12 to stem 16. Flower head 12 and stem 16 may optionally be provided with other known structures for removable attaching two appropriately sized structures, such as a press fit region 36, as seen in FIG. 2, or a corresponding protrusion 38 and groove 40 for snap-fit engagement, as seen in FIG. 3. Stem 16 is preferably translucent, so that the amount of substance 20 remaining in reservoir 18 may be easily determined.

Flower head 12 is preferably manufactured from silk, plastic, and other such materials used in conventional artificial flowers. Stem 16 is may be manufactured from polypropylene or polyethylene plastic in any variety of textures and with any variety of pigments added thereto to provide a natural look. Stem 16 may also be manufactured from a urethane, such as BJB 792, with appropriate pigmentation added thereto. Scented substance 20 may comprise a scented gel or hydrogel, i.e., colloidal dispersion of fragrance distributed within a hydrocolloid matrix. For example, scented substance 20 may comprise a solid air freshener, such as the compound used in Renuzit (r), available from The Dial Corporation, Scottsdale, Ariz. Substance 20 may also comprise other gradual fragrance releasing compounds, such as those disclosed and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,780,527 and 5,698,188, hereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention thus provides a scent delivery system that occurs through the evaporation of substance 20 contained within detachable stem 16. The present invention provides the duality of a fresh floral scent through the use of high quality silk flower heads 12 that fits perfectly within ongoing trend of giving attention to home accents in the overall home design environment. Substance 20 is preferably formulated so that the scent emitted therefrom lasts approximately thirty days, and when the scent is depleted or the user opts for a change of scent, stem 16 is simply detached from head 12 and a new stem 16 containing an additional or a different fragrant substance 20 is attached to head 12. The present invention may thus be arranged to suit the end user's preference, as the present invention can be provided as a single flower 10, an arrangement of multiple flowers 10 (such as of six), or an arrangement of multiple flowers 10 having substances 20 that emit different scents. The module design of the present invention allows the end user to personalize a bouquet of flowers 10 via customization of arrangement of flower designs and scents. 

1. A scented artificial flower, comprising: a flower head having at least one hole formed therethough; a stem including a reservoir formed therein that is removably attached to said head; and a scented substance contained within said reservoir.
 2. The flower of claim 1, wherein said head and said stalk are removably attached via corresponding threads on said head and said stalk.
 3. The flower of claim 1, wherein said scented substance is a gel.
 4. The flower of claim 1, wherein said flower head defines chamber in communication with said hole and said reservoir.
 5. The flower of claim 4, wherein said chamber includes threads formed therein.
 6. The flower of claim 5, wherein said stem includes threads formed on an outer surface thereof.
 7. The flower of claim 6, wherein said stem is translucent.
 8. A scented artificial flower, comprising: a flower head; a stem including a reservoir formed therein; means for removably attaching said stem to said head; and a scented substance contained in said reservoir.
 9. The flower of claim 8, wherein said means for removably attaching said stem to said head comprises corresponding threads on said stem and said head.
 10. The flower of claim 8, wherein said means for removably attaching said stem to said head comprises a press fit portion.
 11. The flower of claim 8, wherein said means for removably attaching said stem to said head comprises a protrusion extending outwardly from said stem and a channel formed in said head, whereby said protrusion may be snap engaged with said channel.
 12. The flower of claim 8, wherein said means for removably attaching said stem to said head comprises a protrusion extending outwardly from said head and a channel formed in said stem, whereby said protrusion may be snap engaged with said channel.
 13. The flower of claim 8, wherein said head includes one or more structures selected from the group consisting of petals, sepals, and stamen.
 14. A method of supplying at least one scent to a bouquet including at least one artificial flower, comprising the steps of: providing a first stem having a first reservoir containing first scented substance; and removably attaching a first flower head having a first hole formed therein to said stem to form a first artificial flower.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of: providing a second stem having a second reservoir containing a second scented substance; removably attaching a second flower head having a second hole formed therein to said stem to form a second artificial flower; positioning said second artificial flower in close proximity to said first artificial flower.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said first scented substance and said second scented substance emit different scents.
 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of replacing said first stem of said artificial flower with a second stem having a second reservoir containing a second scented substance.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of replacing said first stem of said artificial flower with a second stem having a second reservoir containing a second scented substance comprises the steps of unthreading said first stem from said first flower head and threading a second stem having a second reservoir containing a second scented to said first flower head.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein said first reservoir is in communication with said first hole.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein said second reservoir is in communication with said second hole. 